Airplane tail jack and dolly



1931 w. B..M I ENDON ET AL 1,794,027

AIRPLANE TAIL JACK AN DOLLY Filed Dec. 24. 1928 IN V EN TOR. WILL/6 5. NFL ENDON A TTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 24, p

UNITED STATESPA TENTi OFFICE WILLIS B. McLENnoN AND ARTIN r. WAGNER, or San DIEGO, CALIFORNIA AIR-PLANE. TAIL JACK Ann noLLY Application filed Jlecember 24, 1912SihSerial No 328,159.

Our inventionlrelates to airplane tail jacks and chillies, and the Objects of our invention are: First, to provide adevice of this class which is adapted to readily engage aloop portion forming a part of the tail skid of an airplane, lifting said tail skid so as to easily move said airplane; second, to provide a device ofthisclass in which a hook member ongageable with a loop forming a part of the oftail skid of an airplane, is resiliently held in the proper positionfor engaging said loop; third, to provide adevice of this class which may be turned at asharp angle relative to the airplane to which it is attached, so that 16 said airplane may be moved in an are having a: small radius; fourth, toprovide a device ofthis'class which lifts the tail skid off the ground so that the airplane may be readily moved into and out of the hangar, or other desirable places; fifth, to provide a device of this class which engages and raises the tail skid of the airplane with a. minimum' of manipulating; sixth,to provide a device of this class which is especially adapted to be used in connection withlanding fields having considerable trallic where it isessential to quickly move the airplane after it has landed, out of the way; seventh, to provide a device of this class which is built extremely low so as to clear the rudder and elevators of an airplane; eighth, to provide a device of this class which can be used on various sizes and types of airplanes, providing said airplanes'are equipped with a loop member adapted to extend upwardly from the end portion of the tail skid; ninth, to provide a device of this class which is simple, sturdy and rigid of construction, durable, ethcient in its action, and which willn'ot readily deteriorate or get out of order.

lNith these and other objects in view as willappear hereinafter, our invention consists of certain novel features ofconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail, and particularly set-forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings thereof, which form a part of this application. i i 1 is a plan view of our'tail Jack and dolly. Fig. 2 is a sectional, elevational view through 2.2ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through 33 of Fig. 1, with parts and portions shown in ele vation to facilitate the illustration. Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of a portion of the jack member showing the catch member in connection therewith; Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view through 55 of Fig. 2. f i i Similar characters of reference refer to similar partsand portionsthroughout the several views of the drawings.

Axle member 11,.wheel 2, frame member 3, channel member 4, support 5, jack member 6, swivel member 7, hook member 8, loop member 9, spring 10, catch dog 11, catch member 12, link member 13, and catch operating arm l l, constitute the principal parts and portions of our airplane tail jack and dolly.

A substantially U-shaped axle member 1 is provided, the cross portion 1a of which is considerably longer than the leg portion 16. The axle member is preferably formed of channel iron and the cross portion 1a preferably joins said leg portions 1?) at right angles thereto. Projecting outwardly from each leg portion 16 is a sub-axle 10 upon which is mounted a wheel 2.

Secured to the cross portion 1a of the axle 1 near each end thereof is a frame member 3 which is preferably tubular. The two frame members converge and. extend. rearwardly from the axle 1. The ends 3a of the frame members 3 are flattened and are secured to opposite sides of a channel member 4, the inner side surfaces of which preferably form a continuation of the inner sides of the frame members, as shown best in Fig. 1. Secured to the under side of the channel member 4 is a support 5 which is adapted to hold the frame members 3 substantially parallel with the ground. y

The frame members 3 are preferably curved in such a manner that their convex sides face each other, thus permitting their' inner, or. convex] sides to merge gradually into the channel member 4. The channel member 4 is only long enough to adequately secure the ends of the frame members and I formfa suitable surfacefor securing the sup-- port 5. I c

A. 'ack member 6, in the form of a lever,

is pivot-ally secured near its one end to aswivel member 7.

The swivel member 7 consists of a bifurcated portion 7a, which extends on either side-j, on the Lack member; 6 and sup ports the endso axle 1, in alinement with thechanne'l 4. Y A, pin 70, extending downwardly through the base of the bifurcated portion 7 a, andthrough the channel member, permits the desired pivotal movementof thesw-ivel member,

The shonteren'd 6a of the iackzmemberextends between. the Wheels 2, and" terminates approximately opposite a. vertlcalr plane pass-v ing throughthe axes-of the wheels. Pivotany mounted in thep'ortiontao'iz'the jack and extending: downwardly therefrom is a V hook member 8. This hook member. is'adaptzed to: engage a loopmemben 9, Which issecured to the lower portion-of an airplane-tail skid, as shown by dottedlinesdniFigLfifia. The loop-member Q is-secured to the tail skid. in

such. a manner that i t-always extends upwardly so as not; to interfere with the operation thereof; i

In order to facilitate the. engagement'oi the hook member 8- -Wli1'lL the loopmember: 9, an arm 8a extendsrearwardlytrom the vupper end portion ofsaid hook memben; arm is connected to the oneend o f'aispring 10; the other end ofsaid springbeing secured to a clamp 10a. Thus the hook Siniay pivot aboutits axis, but said' hooknormall yreturns to centered position so asto engage said loop 9-; r a

'if he position of-the hook:Sis-suchthatthe tailskid, when supported by the jack,- isa-pproX-imatel-y in the axisv of" and intern'iediate the wheels 2, thus said wheels carryprecti cal-1y all of'the- Weight, leaving the extended portions ofthe devi-ce free for easy manipulati'on.

' The intermediate portion-of thelonger-arm 67) of the jack dis-adapted to rest in the chan-.

nelP when said-arm is initslowered position, as shown inFigs; 1, 2 and 5' of the dia-wings. The portion of the' arm 61 between: the channel-4 and point" of support, isbent down wardly' asm-uch as possible so as tofenable said armwhen raised to cl'ear-- the; nudder, or elevatorsofan airplane.-

Projecting upwardly from-eachside of'the channel member t at the extended endthereof is a catch; dog-11, oneoat'ch: dogon each side of the'j'a'ck'ti. A- catch member- 12 is: adapted to; engage thed'ogsl l. Thegcatchmember 1 2 consist-slot a housing- 12a, secured to the longer-arnr of the jack: 6, and having slots in the side walls thereof extendiing v longitudinally'with said jack member, through which project the ends of a pin 12?). The

pin 12?) extends transversely to the "arm 6a, and the ends thereof are adapted'to be engagedby hook portions of'the catch dogs llj ,end-of the rod-12c facing said handleis providedwith loop 126 therein, to which is fastened the; one endaof alinkme nber 13- The otherend', of said link member is, con

nected intermediate, the ends of an arm 14 which is pivotally secured to the extended portion of the Jackfi-near; the handle therecf.

Movement ofthis arm 14 causes the pin to disengage the" catch- 1 )ort1on of the dog 11,

'l he operation of our device is as follows: T he device ismoved until the Wheels Qareon either side of the tailskid of an airplane. The pin 1% is then; released from thedogs 11 and the jack member 6 is raised, then pivoted to one-side or. the other until the hook 8 canbe broughtinto engagement with the loop 9:, The arm 66 of'thejack is thenbrought downwardly until the 5 pin l-Qb-again engages the dog llg When this is accomplished: the

airplane; is; supported at; all; points upon wheels enabling; itto vbe easily moved:

Thespmng; Ill-maintains the hook, 8- in the pesition which will permit. the most ready engagement; thereoffwith theloop 9, secured tothe tailskid-H j i r 7 Pivotal movement of theaswivel 7 permits thehooktobemoved to one side ortheother if the tail skid shouldnotbeinelinement with the: jack; when the-jack is; in its normal position;

The curvature: of, the frame. members- 3 causes the member 6:.to automatically center itself so thatrthe; catchgmay engage the dog. Thus when the catch has engaged 'the'dog; 1-1, the frame members; 3, channels and support here connectedito the arm- (Sb-,sotliatthe device forms a dolly; f

It will be noted; asshowndn Fig; 2, that the device maybe made very low so that it may be easily manipulatedi nder lew hanging portionsiof an airplane;

It is obvious; from; the structure disclosed in the drawings and described, in the f'oregoing specification that there is provided an airplane tail jack. and dollyas aimed} at and set forth intheobjectsof the inventiomand though We have shown;and'describeda-particula-r construction, combination and ar rangement of parts and portions, we donot the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims;

Having thus described our invention, what.

we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is i 1. In a device for raising the tail skid of an airplane, a frame, wheels supporting the one end of said frame, a lever member forming a jack pivotally secured to the wheel supported end of said frame rearwardly of the wheel axis, and means on theend of said lever between the axles of said wheels for engaging and raising said tail skid.

2. In a device for raising the tail skid of an airplane, a frame, Wheels supporting the one end of said frame, a lever member forming a jack pivotally secured to the wheel supported end of saidframe rearwardly of the wheel axis, engaging means pivotally mounted at the oneend of saidlever member between the axles of said Wheels, for engaging and raising said tail skid.

3. In a device for raising the tail skid of an airplane, a frame, whee-lssupporting the one end of said frame, a lever member forming a jack pivotally secured to the supported end of said frame, engaging means pivotally mounted at the one end of said lever member between said wheels, for engaging and raising said tail skid, and means for resiliently holding said engaging means in position for c0 operating with said tail skid.

4. In a device forraising the tail skid of an airplane, a frame, wheels supporting the one end of said frame, a skid portion supporting the other end of said frame, a lever member forming a jack pivotally secured to said frame rearwardly of the wheel axis, means for removably securing said lever to the skid supported end of said frame, and means mounted on said lever member between said wheels for engaging said airplane tail skid.

5. In a device for raising the tail skid of an airplane, a frame, wheels supporting the one end of said frame, a skid portion supporting the other end of said frame, a lever member forming a ack-pivotally secured to said frame rearwardly of. the wheel axis, means for removably securing said lever to the skid supported end of said frame, and downwardly extending engaging means mounted at the one end of said lever member between said wheels, for engaging said airplane tail skid. i

6. In a device for raising the tail skid of an airplane, a fran 1e,wheels supporting the one end of said frame, a skid portion supporting the other end of said frame, a lever member forming a jack, horizontally rotatable joint pivotally means pivotally securing said lever near the wheel supported end of said frame, means for reniovably securing said lever to the skid supported end ofsaid frame, engaging means pivotally mounted at the one end of said lever member between said wheels, said lever member provided with a downwardly extending oli'set portion forclearing projecting portions of an airplane when said lever is in its elevated position.

7. In a device for raising thetail skid of an airplane, a frame, wheels supporting the one end of said frame, a lever member forming a jackpivotally secured to the supported end of said frame, engaging ni eans pivotally mounted at the one end of said lever member between said wheels,dogmeans mounted on saidframe, and catch means mounted on said lever engageable with said dog means fOrl'CIi'lQVllJlY securing said lever and frame togetherl SQIn a device of the classidescribed, a frame, wheels supporting the one end of said f rame means, a lever forming a jack,a swivel mountedupon said frame forming the fulcrum of said lever, and permitting horizon tal and vertical movementthereof, the one arm of said lever adapted to extend between said wheels, the other arm of said lever adaptedto extend past-the end ofsaid frame unsupported by said wheels and form a handle, latch means mounted on said lever for engaging a portion of said frame, and means connected with the first mentioned arm of said lever for engaging a portionof the tail of an airplane. p

9. In a device for raising the tail skid of an airplane, aframe, wheels supporting the one end of said frame means, a lever forming a jack, a swivel mounted upon said frame forming the fulcrum of said lever, and permitting horizontal and vertical movement thereof, the one. arm of said lever adapted to extend between said wheels, the other arm of said lever adapted to extend past the end of said frame unsupported by said wheels and form a handle, means mounted on said lever for releasably securing said handle in rigid relation to said frame thereby permitting said second mentioned arm'of saidlever to act as a handle for shifting said frame, engaging means pivotallymounted in a vertical axis on said first mentioned arm of said lever, for engaging. said airplane tail skid.

10. In a device for raising the tail skid of an airplane, a frame, wheels supporting the one end of said frame means, a lever forming a jack, a swivel mounted upon said frame forming, thefulcrum of said lever and permitting horizontal and vertical movement thereof, the one arm of said lever adapted to extend betweensaid wheels,the other arm. of

- lever forvr eleasably securingsaid handle in rigid relation to. said, frame} thereby permitting said. second inentionedarm. of said lever to act as .a handle, for. shifting said frame, engaging means pivotally mounted onr said first mentioned arm of said. lever, andmeans for v resiliently holding said engaging means in oo-operatingirielation to said tail skid.

.- 11L Inadevice for raisingthe tail skid of an airplane, a frame, Wheels supporting the one end thereof, alevei} member, universal joint means mounted upon said frame means for supporting said lever, interlookable mechanism for, removably engagingthe one armof said lever with said frame, said lever forming a part of said framewhen engaged thereto,and a jack means WllQIl, disengaged therefrom, and means mounted on the other arm of saidlever for engaging the tailportion of an airplane.

dle for rolling said ivheels when secured in saidohanneh In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set day of December, 1928. V I A a i WILLIS 'MGLENDON.

' lVlARTIN F; WAGNER.

our hands atSan Diego, Galiforn'ia this lQth '12. In a'device for raising an airplane skid.-

provided With ,aneye member, a frame, Wheels supporting the one end thereof, a lever memher, universal jointmeans mounted upon said frame. means for supporting said lever, interlookable mechanism for, removably engaging the one arm of said lever With-saidframe, said lever forming apart ofsaid frame when engaged thereto, andIaljack, means when disenframe when," engaged thereto and; a. jack means when disengaged therefrom, an engage mg hooktmember, pivotally, mounted in avertical axis upon said other arm-of said lever,

andaneans forresiliently holding said engagingmeans in eo-operatingposition with said eyemember. r

14; In, an airplane-tailjaoktand dolly, an

axle including a horizontally offsetlyoke, P01?- tion, Wheels mounted" on;v said aXle, a sub.-

stantially horizontal, rearwardly extending frame port-ion secured'to said yoke portioma channel 7 member at the outer end of: said frame portioninthe longitudinal axis thereof, a leverpivotally mounted; intermediate its endsonsaid' yoke portion and adaptedto lie in said channel member, interlooking'means for; removably securing said leverinv said channel, and'means at the one end of said lever betweensa'idjWheelsffor engaging the tail skid=of an. airplane vhenfsaidinterlocking meansis released, whereby said airplane skid may be raised. said lever. formlng a ban 

